TRANSITION-METAL PILLARED CLAY .3. A PARA SELECTIVE CATALYST FOR NITRATION OF CHLOROBENZENE

Nitration of chlorobenzene has been studied at different temperatures using transition metal (Fe(III), Cr(III), Mn(III)) pillared clays as t he catalysts. All the samples showed high para selectivity (up to 94%) . The acid activated pillared clays calcined at 300 degrees C showed h igher activity than the nonactivated pillared clays which followed the order: iron oxide pillared acid-activated clay > chromium oxide pilla red acid-activated clay > manganese oxide pillared acid-activated clay whereas the selectivity order is chromium oxide pillared acid-activat ed clay > manganese oxide pillared acid-activated clay > iron oxide pi llared acid-activated clay.